Draft North Point Outline Zoning Plan approved
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     The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft North Point Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

     "The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide development and redevelopment in the North Point area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (December 10).

     The planning scheme area covers about 277 hectares in the northern part of Hong Kong Island. It includes the planned reclamation for the Central-Wan Chai Bypass as well as the existing built-up area on the northern shore and the well-wooded slope rising to Sir Cecil's Ride in the south. The area is also bounded by Hing Fat Street/Gloucester Road/Wun Sha Street to the west, and Mansion Street/Java Road/Hoi Yu Street to the east.

     About 47.8 hectares are zoned "Residential (Group A)", "Residential (Group B)" and "Residential (Group C)" for high-density, medium-density and low-density residential developments respectively.

     About 0.4 hectare, covering five industrial buildings on King's Road and Tsat Tsz Mui Road, is zoned "Residential (Group E)" to encourage the phasing out of the existing industrial uses through redevelopment (or conversion) for residential use on application to the Town Planning Board.

     About 19.3 hectares are zoned "Commercial/Residential" to reflect the general character of the existing developments. About 4.6 hectares are zoned "Commercial" for uses such as office, shop, services, place of entertainment, eating place and hotel and commercial/shopping centres.

     About 6.3 hectares are zoned "Comprehensive Development Area" ("CDA") of which three sites on Oil Street are intended for comprehensive developments including residential, commercial, and/or leisure and tourism-related uses with the provision of open space. The "CDA" site on Kai Yuen Street is designated primarily to improve local traffic conditions while another "CDA" site at the former North Point Estate site is intended for comprehensive development including residential and/or commercial uses with the provision of open space and government, institution or community facilities.

     A total of 27.6 hectares are zoned "Government, Institution or Community" to serve local and district needs.  Another 34.4 hectares of land are zoned "Open Space" to provide outdoor open-air space for both active and/or passive recreational uses. It covers Victoria Park and Choi Sai Woo Park. A major open space will also be provided in the planned reclamation formed for the Central-Wan Chai Bypass project.

     About 87.9 hectares of well-wooded hill-slopes, which form a green backdrop to North Point, are zoned "Green Belt" to promote conservation of the natural environment.

     Specific building height restrictions are imposed for various development zones to provide better control of building height profile, to preserve views to the ridgelines and to improve air ventilation within the area.

     The approved North Point OZP No. S/H8/24 is now available for public inspection at the secretariat of the Town Planning Board, the planning enquiry counters in North Point and Sha Tin, the Hong Kong District Planning Office and the Eastern District Office.

     Copies of the approved OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the plan can be viewed at the Town Planning Board's website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).

Ends/Friday, December 10, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:18

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